That's the whole point .. Foreman gassed out .. Who did Foreman beat in his first carer ? Frazier was still very good but shopworn and made for him style wise .. Norton never defeated a puncher .. he lost to Ali and Young .. other than that Ron Lyle .. that's why the match up is interesting ... Smith had the chin, the size, the strength, the stamina and the punch to make it an interesting fight ..
This is correct. There isn´t much reasoning for another hug tango. For instance, both of them would use the jab against each other, what Tyson only did occasionally. The fighter I see clinching like hell against George is Wlad. For Smith its really a question of how much this bout would rumble early on. Maybe more a question on his durability than on his punching abilities. @Pat M What would be your game plan for Smith?
How's this for durability ? Witherspoon was a very good puncher and he teed off on Smith in this fight, their first fight and Smith showed a ton of grit and a hell of a chin .. This content is protected
If Smith listened to me I'd have him attack Foreman like he did Witherspoon/Weaver etc. I don't think Foreman could take that storm, and even if he did, he'd be weakened and it would make him fatigue even quicker. Smith would be 15-20 pounds heavier, longer, quicker, IMO, a shorter puncher who would get there first with the most and plenty durable to take slower, wider shots from the smaller man. Smith does not need to stall against 70s Foreman. Foreman is the one who I would worry about his punching power, he doesn't seem to have much against bigger fighters. The only top 25 fighter he ever stopped who weighed over 220 is Moorer. I don't think Foreman has the power to take out Smith and Smith could put him on the defensive early. I could see Smith stopping Foreman in the first few rounds or later if Foreman fights defensively. 70s Foreman didn't have a lot of stamina. I would tell Smith (if he listened to me) not to hold, wrestle or stall, just be aggressive and throw punches. I think his corner made him too tentative against Tyson. Of course Tyson was a much different fighter than Foreman, quicker, better stamina, and much better defensively.
WHOA! That overhand right! 'Spoon rocked him, I forgot about that...Smith was no joke in the heart department. This content is protected
Not sure if or when I´ve seen this fight, but good lord what a right hand Witherspoon could throw! Nasty!! And Smith taking these. On the other hand, punches like this shouldn´t land that flush in the first place, which doesn´t look too good imagin Foreman throwing these. Thanks for the reply. I´ve checked the early rounds against Tyson yesterday and Mike landed punches from angles, like right before and after the clinch, that Smith definitely didn´t expect nor see them coming. Not sure how much of this tactics (not opening up) might have come from what Smith felt there. I´d ask that question in the first place bacause so many think Foremans stamina was crap, and if it wouldn´t be a better approach to train Smith (from the start of the camp) to use a (frustrating) boxing approach early and throw more heavy leather afterwards. For the weight I think Smith beeing bigger is really insignificant here. Foreman could carry 225 no problem.
I think you just verified how Foreman would have crushed Smith, my friend. Bonecrusher couldn't have taken a Foreman shot like that flush and made it. Shoot, 'Spoon had him staggering pretty bad there. That said, he did have a lot of courage. Even when Holmes was slicing him up and making him look really bad he tried very, very hard.
In response to the proposition that Smith tries to grab on to Foreman to tire him out. How exactly is Smith supposed to constantly hang on to Foreman and smother his punches when they are the same height? Foreman boxed off a jab and set up his punches that way. He mostly kept a certain distance from his opponent and used footwork to back off or move in to adjust to his opponents position. He also used pushing tactics and manhandled his opponents to the spot where he wanted them.
As for the fight, it would look Like Foreman vs Chuvalo. Smith was slow and limited with poor reactions. He may have been strong and durable but so was Chuvalo. Doesn't mean he isnt gonna get stopped when Foreman staggers him and goes ape**** on him.
Foreman had a tremendous uppercut, one that was much better close inside (unlike Iron Mike's, which usually needed a set up and/or midrange launch). Smith tries to hug, he gets murdered.
That's the entire thing here, I can't believe people who pick him over Foreman actually watch Smith fights. Smith was extremely easy to hit. It doesn't give him great chances against Foreman.
Do you still believe that Smith is quicker than Foreman? Like seriously? That's ridiculous take, like all-time bad for this forum. Do you know what's the Foreman's record against 220+lbs fighters? 23-2, with 18 KOs. Including stoppage wins against Frazier, Lyle, Cooney and LeDoux.
